Apple Reverses Policy, Allows Marijuana App Back Into iTunes

By
Joe Garofoli, SF Gate
on February 13, 2015

Two weeks ago, The Chronicle reported how Apple had yanked an app for MassRoots – an online community for marijuana users — from its iTunes store, even though it had been there from July 2013 until last Nov. 4 (coincidentally the same day voters in Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia legalized marijuana for adult recreational use).

Founder Isaac Dietrich offered to geo-restrict the MassRoots app so only people living in jurisdictions where marijuana is legal could use it. He said Apple refused to budge.

But on Thursday, Apple budged, Dietrich told The Chronicle.

“A few hours ago, an Apple representative called to notify us that our efforts were successful: the App Store is permitting cannabis social apps that are geo-restricted to the 23 states that have legalized medicinal cannabis. MassRoots is available for download in the App Store,” Dietrich said.